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Taking effective, useful notes will help you organize information, making studying for quizzes and exams much easier. You have a number of note-taking methods to choose from, so you'll need to explore each style. The charting method may work well if you have statistics, dates or other such data. Knowing how to take notes in this style will help you determine how well it would work for you.

Create Columns

If you plan to use the charting method during a lecture, you may want to prepare before the lecture begins. This will keep you from falling behind when your professor begins speaking. Draw columns on your page. The number you need will vary, depending on the type of information given in the lecture. With your columns in place, you will want to write headers at the top of each column. For example, if the lecture involves historical dates and people, you may have headers that include “date,” “event,” “people involved” and “outcomes.”

Insert Information

When the lecture begins or during your reading, you will insert data into the appropriate columns you created. In a basic example, if you have the columns “date” and “event,” when your professor mentions the day or year of a specific event, you will write this information in the “date” column. You will then write down the corresponding information about the date in the “event” column.

After Class

For reading notes, the charting method may come easily. However, this could prove difficult if you have a professor who speaks quickly or does not follow a pattern for the lecture. In such cases, you may need to take notes the best you can during class and then rewrite them in a clear, legible manner after you leave class.

Evaluate the Method

The charting method will give you organized notes that allow you to quickly locate the information you need to study. This note-taking method may not work for all of your classes, so you may need to use other methods. When taking notes during a lecture, you may find this method works best for you when you have a general knowledge of the content before the lecture begins.

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About the Author

Kate Beck started writing for online publications in 2005. She worked as a certified ophthalmic technician for 10 years before returning to school to earn a Masters of Fine Arts degree in writing. Beck is currently putting the finishing touches on a novel.